Whether you’re travelling for pleasure or business, there has been a recent rise in travelling solo, even in the midst of Muslim women. Nikki Vargas, travel blogger at The Pin the Map Project, told BuzzFeed Life that her solo traveling began as a way to venture into the world alone with her thoughts. “One of the beautiful things about solo traveling is that you’re living life on your terms. It’s empowering to get to learn about yourself and what you want and do that against the backdrop of a beautiful country.”
Begin with your Prayer
We believe that faith should sync perfectly with your lifestyle (thus, Halal cosmetics!), so it’s only natural that you begin your journey, or planning your journey with prayer.
Crowdsource your research
Chances are, there are people who’ve gone to places you’re going to. And even if you’ve never met them in person, there are heaps of experts on sites like Tripadvisor, or even blogs and youtube.
Book reputable accommodation
Yes, it’s easy to want to skimp on things, but you want to go home to safety at the end of the day. If you can’t afford to splurge on a fancy hotel, make sure you read the reviews of Air B&Bs in its entirety!
Give someone back home your itinerary.
At least one person who’s not traveling with you should have a general idea of where you’ll be and when, in case something goes wrong or they need to get in touch with you.
Take pictures of all your documents and put them on a locked site like DropBox that you can access from any computer.
Passport, IDs, ticket numbers, reservations, etc. That way if you lose them AND your computer or phone, you won’t be totally screwed.
International phone plans are worth it for emergencies.
If you don’t want to spring for a whole plan, at least pack a couple of international phone cards with you in case you need them.
Visit the local mosque
It’s easy to strike up a conversation with local Muslims in a mosque. Search online for the central mosque in the city and pay them a visit. You might be invited to try some local food too or have a tour guide for the day.
If you’re listening to music, don’t wear both headphones.
That way you can always stay alert. You can also wear headphones with no music on as an excuse for not listening to unwanted conversation and a way to eavesdrop and overhear anything sketchy that might be going on.
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